Sport

CRICKET: Somerset's new pavilion gets green light

THE new Somerset Pavilion at the County Ground took a step closer to becoming reality when it was given the full approval of the club’s general committee, writes Richard Walsh.

The pavilion, which is being built at a cost of £3.8million and will replace the Old Pavilion at the St James Street End, will be the next phase in the redevelopment of the County Ground.

Demolition of the Old Pavilion will begin as soon as the final home match of the 2014 season has been completed and the building will commence as soon as possible after that.

It is hoped that part of the new Somerset Pavilion End will be ready for use during the 2015 season and the new facility will be fully opened for use in time for the beginning of the 2016 campaign.

Chief executive Guy Lavender said: “Over the last 18 months we have undertaken a tremendous amount of work looking at the design and what we want the building to do and how we provide an ambitious facility within the budget that we have at the club.

“I’m delighted to say that we are coming to the culmination of the process and we expect to appoint a main contractor relatively shortly and we are on track to get cracking in September.”

This week the club put up notices around the ground at inform supporters of the latest developments and also to invite people to contribute the Somerset Pavilion Appeal which aims to raise £150,000 this year.

“We are a relatively small business but this is a significant project at around £3.8million and we have already had a great response from members willing to make a contribution to the Somerset Pavilion Appeal to deliver a facility that will provide the backbone for the next generation.”

Lavender added: “The Somerset Pavilion will be a magnificent addition to the County Ground providing an exceptional range of services for both domestic and international cricket.

“It will cement Taunton’s position as one of the finest county cricket grounds in the country, as well as provide enormous pleasure to the current and future generation of Somerset supporters and visitors to the club.”

Meanwhile Somerset’s home match against Nottinghamshire at the County Ground this week looked to be heading for a draw when the County Gazette went to press on Wednesday afternoon. In reply to Notts 440 all out, Alfonso Thomas claiming 5-127 and Lewis Gregory 4-80, Somerset made 402-9 declared, Alviro Petersen making 94, Pete Trego hitting 86 and Marcus Trescothick 72.

Batting for a second time Notts reached 176-3 as the match meandered towards a draw.

n Josh Davey, one of three players to join Somerset for this season, has been named in the Scotland squad for the one day international against England at Aberdeen on Friday starting at 10.30am.